Newcastlevs.Brighton

The prolific Swede has scored 21 goals in 30 games this term, netting 19 times in 24 Premier League outings and twice in five EFL Cup matches.

With the help of Isak's impressive form in the final third, Eddie Howe's side sit sixth in the Premier League table, just three points behind the top four, and have progressed to the EFL Cup final where they will face Liverpool at Wembley.

Newcastle will hope to end their 70-year trophy drought when they lock horns with Liverpool at the end of March, but if they fail to prevail in the capital, they may get a second bit of the cherry through the FA Cup.

The Magpies have beaten League Two outfit Bromley (3-1) in the third round and League One leaders Birmingham City (3-2) in the fourth round to set up Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round tie with fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion at St James' Park.

Howe could call upon Isak to lead the line, but as thing stand, the 25-year-old is a doubt after missing Wednesday's 2-0 Premier League loss to Liverpool with a groin injury.

Howe is hopeful that Isak's issue is not a long-term problem and has revealed that the Swede will play against Brighton if he is fit to do so.

However, if Isak is not deemed ready to start, Howe has two other strikers he can call upon to lead the line; one of those is Callum Wilson who sustained a cut close to his eye on his first PL start of the season in midweek, but should be fit to feature on Sunday.

The other is William Osula, a £15m summer signing from Sheffield United who may be given the nod to start in attack considering his impressive FA Cup record.

Should Howe put faith in Osula if Isak is not fit to feature?

At the age of 21, Osula has taken part in seven FA Cup matches (six starts, one substitute outing) in his fledgling career and he has recorded seven goals and three assists, averaging a goal or an assist every 48 minutes in the competition.

The Danish striker is already boasting a better record in the FA Cup than both Isak (two goals, no assists in six games) and Wilson (four goals, no assists in eight games).

During his time on loan at Derby County from Sheffield United in the first half of the 2022-23 season, Osula scored both goals for the Rams in a 2-2 draw with Torquay United in the first round, before scoring and assisting in a 5-0 victory in the replay.

Osula was then unable to contribute to a goal during a 20-minute cameo appearance of the substitutes' bench in a 2-1 second-round win at Newport County, but that is the only time the striker has failed to either score or assist in an FA Cup match.

At Sheffield United, Osula scored three goals across two FA Cup games in January 2024, netting a brace in a comfortable 4-0 win at Gillingham in the third round before scoring an equaliser in a 5-2 home defeat to Brighton - Newcastle's opponents on Sunday - in the fourth round.

Osula has been limited to just 10 substitute appearances under Howe since joining Newcastle last summer, but the FA Cup is a competition in which he continues to excel and the Dane made his mark for the Magpies in their third and fourth-round victories earlier this season.

Indeed, Osula scored Newcastle's third goal in a 3-1 comeback win over Bromley in the third round before assisting goals scored by Joe Willock and Wilson in the Magpies' 3-2 victory at Birmingham in the fourth round earlier this month.

Although most of Osula's FA Cup outings have been against lower-league opposition, it is fair to say that the young striker loves playing in England's most prestigious cup competition and will hope that Howe puts faith in him to deliver once again on Sunday if Isak is not fit to feature.

Howe will have "no hesitation" to play Osula

Discussing his first-team involvement at Newcastle after making his first competitive start for the Magpies in a 1-0 EFL Cup win over AFC Wimbledon in October, Osula told reporters: "It's not me to say, that's for the gaffer.

"He's going to pick the team that will play, so whatever role I have to play here I look forward to it and just take my opportunity and chance when they come.

"I'm always ready. I'm ready. I'm always ready to work hard and do my best for the team here so whenever I'm called upon I'm ready to give my all."

Osula added: "Football is patient. Everything doesn't come straight away in life, so I'll have to work hard and eventually my time will come."

Although Osula has not featured regularly since joining Newcastle, Howe has previously stated that he will have "no hesitation" in playing the striker when he feels the time is right.

"We are doing a lot of work with Will behind the scenes," Howe told reporters in December. "I have no hesitation in playing him as well."

"I have been really, really impressed by him," the Magpies boss added. "His attitude to learning is top and he works with a variety of coaches after training to improve.

"He is big, quick and strong and there is just that refinement. The only thing that can bring that is time."

Newcastle, who are bidding to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second successive season, have progressed from each of their last nine fifth-round ties in the competition, but they head into Sunday's contest having won only two of their last 15 meetings with Brighton in all tournaments (D7 L6).

Written by

Oliver Thomas